Si, Se Puede!

Here in California we celebrate Cesar Chavez Day in March when his birthday rolls around. As a bureaucrat, I get the day off, which really makes me love Cesar even more. So why I am I writing this in June? Because I am a procrastinator. Haven’t you figured that out yet?!? Because inspiration does not always hit me square on the head in a timely manner.

Anyway, Cesar Chavez grew up in the southwest as a child of migrant workers. After eighth grade he became one himself. In 1962 he formed the National Farm Workers Association and began a life-long fight for farm workers’ rights. Please head over to http://www.chavezfoundation.org/ to learn more about his life and achievements.

On the last Cesar Chavez Day I was out enjoying a sunny day to myself, riding the Ciocc from my house all the way to the beach and back. As I pedaled past this mural I immediately thought about how many people are involved in food production/distribution.

Creating the Feast

by John Jay Whalen with Jeanne Whalen and Christina Thurston

Now that summer is upon us and juicy fruits fill the farmer’s markets, it is as good a time as any for me to think of the hands that pick the food and be thankful for their work. Especially the oddly happy ones wielding carving knives!

Rain, Rain, Gone Away

Did ya hear? No rain or snow in S.Cal again this year. Less snow means less water to drink. Less water means turn the tap off and let the lawn dry up already! So before the City cuts off the water works, I really want to share one of my very favorite fountains.



Bow Wave by Malcolm Leland

Which makes me ponder: What are you doing in the name of water conservation?

Wanderlust

Every year or so I get the uncontrollable urge to run away. Once, I went all the way to Europe. It was awesome. Another time I considered leaving my premature newborn at the NICU and disappearing into the dark. That was not so awesome.

So anyway, here I am, feeling the urge again and since running off to foreign places isn’t really in the budget anymore, the little dudes and I went on vacation in our own front yard.


We were like hobos, jumping on and off the trolley.

We ate ice cream and sat in the sun.

We opened our minds to public art.

100 Years, 100 Stones, by Eve Andrée Laramée

It was awesome.

Cool Globes

First in what I hope will be a series of posts about public art, Cool Globes is a collection of works by various artists who are committed to finding a solution to global warming. Currently located in and around the plaza in front of the Natural History Museum. From October 15 through November 30, 2008.

Mr. Polar Bear Goes to Washington, by Peter Mars.

Plastics, Metals and Cell Phones (OH MY!), by Faheem Majeed and the Comer Youth Center.

left: Tapping Geothermal Resources, by Deirdre Fox
center: One Man's Trash... Don't Waste - Instead Create!, by Mitch Levin
right: Plastics, Metals and Cell Phones (OH MY!), by Faheem Majeed and the Comer Youth Center.

Spin Dry: Drawing a Line on Global Warming, by Thom Cicchelli

in the foreground: Teenie Greenie, by Red Moon

For more information, visit the Cool Globes traveling exhibition website.